I’m trying to decide how to fill 4 days in November this year between 2 booked tours and I’d love some ideas from you well travelled peeps. I’m looking at you @Cuttlefish
I finish a tour in Amman, Jordon and start another tour in Casablanca, Morocco 4 days later in November. I will need book flights from Amman to Casablanca and thought a little side trip somewhere would be great. I need some inspiration.
My preference is to do direct flights from Amman to the mystery destination and a direct flight from there to Casablanca without spending all day flying and not be too expensive for flights, accommodation, food etc. Also, this will be my first time solo travelling in places I’ve never been to so it needs to be safe for a solo female.
Can’t really help with the side trip, but spent 3 months in Morocco last year. Great place. If Rabat is not part of your tour, would certainly recommend that. Felt very safe in Morocco, wandered around on my own at night in both Marrakech and Fez, no drama. Feel free to message me if I can help in anyway.
Hi @Crookie. I assume the tour in Jordan takes in Petra and Wadi Rum? If not, please don’t leave Jordan without seeing at least Petra, it is one of those places that brought tears to my eyes and remains one of my favorite places. Wadi Rum is an experience all on itself. But I don’t think you would have time for both.
From what I recall, flights between Amman and Morocco are not cheap. Also 4 days isn’t really that long after being on tour. If you are thinking of flying Amman to Casablanca, maybe just wander around Casablanca and rest up before the tour starts there. Casablanca in my opinion isn’t that interesting, though just wandering and exploring can be. The tour usually only takes you to the Hassan II Mosque which is pretty spectacular and maybe a little else but generally not much so you really don’t see a lot of Casablanca. The seafront is interesting and plenty of restaurants and coffee shops to just sit and people watch. You won’t feel weird being alone as it is a tourist mecca and there will be hundreds of tourists as yourself. Like anywhere in Arabic countries, you will get stared at continuously only because you are Western but it’s not personal. Being blonde I couldn’t walk two feet without being stopped for a photo lol I assume, also, that you will be seeing Marrakesh on tour? There is a fantastic beach south of Marrakesh called Essaouria with an amazing stone walled city which is sight, sound and smell overload. This area was a highlight of my time in Morocco. A visit there then flight to Casablanca would be great if Essaouria isn’t on the tour route. It’s hard not knowing where the tours are taking you to though, there are so many options to visit. Can you give a short outline of the tour? I spent a bit of time in Morocco before heading back to Egypt. Fantastic country, 10/10
Thanks @Cathie & @ziggy for your very welcome advice.
I’ve got 2 weeks in Egypt & Jordan on the first tour, flying from Cairo to Amman as part of the first tour. In Jordan the tour visits Amman, Jerash, Petra (2 days), Wadi Rum (camel ride to Bedouin camp), Dead Sea, then back to Amman in this order. Finishing in Amman on 20 Nov.
The second tour starts in Casablanca, Morocco on 25 Nov and visits Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, Volubilis, Fes, Midelt, Merzouga (Sahara Desert Camp on camels), Todra Gorge, Dades Valley, Ait Benhaddou, Marrakech for 3 days (in that order). I then fly back to Australia.
It looks like there is heaps to see in Amman compared to Casablanca. I live opposite the beach in Qld so don’t need to do a beach resort holiday. We spend a couple of days on tour in Casablanca and do go to the Hassan II Mosque. I haven’t been able to find much else there to do there. However Amman looks very interesting. Is Amman worth spending 4 extra days there? Or what about days tours/trips out from Amman by myself?
Your tours are perfect, I have been to all of those places and loved them. You will definitely start to get “templed/ruins" out eventually so maybe look at.ore low key stuff. I agree that there is little to offer in Casablanca. Don’t be put off by Essaouria being on the beach, it’s not the beach that’s great but the walled city and surrounds moreso. It’s really quite stunning and a real Moroccan experience. It’s nothing like our beach environment, it’s worth googling to look at. But I think staying in Amman longer and just wandering and doing some local tours is a good idea. Have a look on Viator, Get Your Guide and other sites to see what local tours there are. Walking tours, food tours, even your hotel can and will provide great ideas and contacts for days out. Otherwise just take time to just chillax and take in the actual environment and people, just walk and watch. That’s what I love most when travelling, you do come across some amazing things when you least expect it. I would stay in Amman if you don’t want to be flitting around with just four days. It’s really not that long. After your two weeks doing Egypt and Jordan, I can assure you that you will be ready for a break by yourself. By the way, these are the two of my favorite countries in the world, been to Egypt four times and love love LOVE Jordan. Also Jordan is way more laid back insofar as dress and culture than Egypt. Moroccans speak mainly French to and of course Arabic. Getting to and from airports and using transport in foreign countries like Jordan and Morocco is time consuming and stressful in itself so you can pretty much write off nearly two days for travelling and settling into new hotels. Your four free days can easily become two. One thing I’ve learned from travel is, don’t try to plan everything down to the last minute basically, sometimes just letting things happen is the best planning you can do
With pleasure @Crookie. The easiest & probably most obvious choice would be Istanbul if you haven’t been. 3/4 days perfect and lots of direct flights from Amman in & out to Casablanca. Other choices for us as a geographical stop off would be Tblisi, Athens, Tirana, Belgrade or Dubrovnik but can’t find any direct flights this time of year. If you’ve already been to Istanbul, then also lots of direct flights to Antalya from Amman as a coastal option. Old town is lovely & some architectural ruins not far away. Message me for more ideas or accommodation etc if either of those sound like a plan? Plus everything @ziggy says is great and Jordan is awesome if you simply stay longer! #turkiyetraveltips
My further 2 cents tours are usually high intensity and I agree at the end it might be best just to take those four days to regroup in Amman. There is always more to see and do wherever you are as far as I am concerned. We filed a week in Casablanca, there is a souk and lots of colonial architecture if you are into that, it is a big modern city. Essaouira is great but 3 hours by bus from Marrakech as I recall plus train from Casablanca so two travel days really. It all depends on how much you want to pack into your time
I can’t help you @Crookie as haven’t been to Jordan, which has been on my list for a long time and I’m sure will be fascinating. A much warmer trip than last year’s! Some great ideas from others.
Of course, your mileage may vary, and I really hope it does. I just (a week ago) spent some time in Amman and… let’s just say it is not the place for me. Hills, filth, millions of cats and rather ugly run down town. You end up walking in zigzags, covering three to five times the actual distance and time. Alternatively, there are stairs, ladder-like with 100+ steps, that very few people actually climb. I was so fed up with Amman that I didn’t even go to Petra, even though I already had a ticket. I enjoyed(?) it on YouTube instead.
The only area I (kind of) liked was the artsy district near Paris Square, which is where I also happened to stay. I also enjoyed a licensed restaurant called Dali, which has a happy hour from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Citadel is worth visiting, I am sure it is included in your tour.
On a positive note, the people in Amman are the friendliest I have ever met. And F-taxi, dirt cheap - you need to download an app
The place I’d recommend you visit during your four-day gap is Western Sahara, right next to Morocco. I’d suggest it not so much for its spectacular sights, but for its uniqueness. If you lucky? You may be the only tourists in town.
Also, one can never go wrong with Essaouira in Morocco, which is my second favorite after Chefchaouen
I agree with Essaouira I loved it there and it would be a nice relaxing place to stay for a few days although could be on the tour. I was going to suggest Viator, which I used a lot for my recent Chile & Argentina trip. I didn’t use Getyourguide but they generally do the same tours. Worth comparing prices and reviews.
@Smiley Essarouia isn’t unfortunately on the tour, hence I suggested it. So close to Marrakesh but her tour ends in Marrakesh I understand so she would be traveling backwards really by going there first in hindsight.
@august Crookies tour takes in the Western Sahara area so she is covered for that. We all like different things don’t we. I love the atmosphere of Amman which is so similar to areas of Cairo and other parts of Egypt. For me it’s the local vibe not what I will find many cities, I love the chaos and mayhem of Arabic countries. But of course I respect what you like as well, we all love different things. Agree about Chefchaouen, stunning!
@Smiley yes I agree on all points Crookie would have to fly to Marrakesh then bus it to Essaouria which could prove long and stressful in hindsight. But I would love her to go there maybe after the tour ends in Marrakesh. Yes, Viator is very good everywhere and comparable to GetYourGuide.
Friends of mine have stayed twice in Marrakesh for a week and took a day tour each time to Essaouira but, I agree with you, it would be a long day and several hours on a bus. Essaouira warrants more time. Ryanair flies direct to Essaouira from London and I’ve been meaning to go for a few days myself as only had a day and night on my Moroccan tour several years ago.
Yes, it remains one of my favorite places in Morocco, as well as Marrakesh. Then again I loved every part of the country. Walking the wall, the souks, the fishing boats in the port - all mesmerizing. At least for you it’s much easier to get back to than Crookie and I living in Oz I might go again when back in London this trip if there are now direct flights, thanks.
very valuable for me, thank you so much 
Crookie would have to fly to Marrakesh then bus it to Essaouria which could prove long and stressful in hindsight. But I would love her to go there maybe after the tour ends in Marrakesh. Yes, Viator is very good everywhere and comparable to GetYourGuide.
I might go again when back in London this trip if there are now direct flights, thanks.